Security forces rescued the vice chancellor of Gwadar University and three other officials following a 12-day abduction in Balochistan [1].
The recovery of high-ranking academic officials highlights the ongoing security challenges and the risk of targeted kidnappings in the province.
The group, which included the vice chancellor, the pro vice chancellor, and two staff members, totaling four people [4], was kidnapped on May 15, 2026 [2]. Unidentified gunmen carried out the abduction near the Khad Kocha area, also reported as Kardgap, located in the Mastung region of Balochistan [1, 3].
Security forces launched a rescue operation to locate the missing academics. The officials were recovered safely on May 25, 2026 [2], ending the ordeal 12 days after the initial kidnapping [1].
Authorities did not immediately identify the gunmen responsible for the incident. The rescue operation focused on the Mastung area where the officials had been held since mid-May [3].
“Security forces recovered the vice chancellor and three staff members 12 days after they were abducted by gunmen.”
The kidnapping of university leadership in Balochistan underscores the volatility of the region, where academic and government officials are frequently targeted by unidentified armed groups. The successful rescue by security forces demonstrates the state's capability to conduct targeted operations, but the 12-day duration of the captivity reflects the difficulty of operating in the rugged terrain of Mastung.
